Stogie Guys Free Newsletter

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As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) On Tuesday, J. Glynn Loope of Cigar Rights of America issued an open letter to the presidential candidates. “Twenty-nine—that’s the magic number. That’s the number of electoral votes represented by Florida, and the path to twenty-nine is with the approximate 11,939,889 registered voters in the Sunshine State,” the letter reads. “Our message is simple. In light of the planned effort by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to regulate cigars, you need to be talking to our industry—the premium cigar industry. We are Florida… and a few other places you need, as well.” Loope goes on to point out how FDA regulation would damage other states, including Connecticut (where some of the most prized tobacco is grown), Pennsylvania (the nation’s cigar distributor), and Nevada and Louisiana (where the annual cigar trade shows are typically held). “We’ve never had to reach out like this to candidates like you,” the letter continues. “Then again, we’ve never been threatened like this… Not a candidate or victor has ever advanced laws or regulations upon this industry, as in this moment in history. But make no mistake. We will educate, and we will listen. Then, we will vote.” You can read the letter in its entirety here.

2) Residents of Casper will soon vote on whether to allow smoking in the Wyoming city’s bars. “The council moved last week to repeal the ban on smoking in bars, which only went back into effect earlier this month,” reports the San Francisco Gate. “The council was forced by state law to suspend the amendment allowing smoking in bars despite the city’s ban on smoking in other establishments after city officials verified signatures on a petition that would have sent bar smoking to a public vote. Those signatures had originally been thrown out in 2013.” Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming.

3) Inside the Industry: Cuba doesn’t produce many maduro cigars, so it is notable that the first Cuban Partagas maduro, the “Maduro No. 1,” is now arriving in cigar shops worldwide (except, of course, in the United States). Nicholas Melillo’s Foundation Cigar Company is now shipping its highly anticipated debut cigar, El Güegüense. Nate McIntyre, who works in sales for Cubanacan Cigars, has announced he will be launching his own brand called Percy Ray Cigars, which will be an annual limited edition manufactured at Cubanacan.

5) FREE CIGAR GIVEAWAY: Last call for our giveaway of multiple five-packs of Acme Cigars. To enter, all you have to do is follow @akajaylundy on Instagram and post a comment here to say you’ve done so. We’ll be selecting the winners in the next few days, so enter right away!